Type-writing machine



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No. 463,464. Patented Nov. 17, 1891.

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} TYPE WRITING MACHINE. No. 463,464. Patented Nov. 17,1891.

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1 TYPE WRITING MACHINE. Nd. 463,464. Patented Nov. 17,1891.

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No. 463,464. Patented Nov. 17., 1891.

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G SPIRO I TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 463,464. Patented Nov. 17, 1891 UNITED ,TATES ATENT Enron.

CHARLES SPIRO, OF ENGLElvOOD, NE\V JERSEY.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 463,464, datedNovember 17, 1891.

Application filed August 18, 1888- Serial No. 283,080. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES SPIRO, a citizen of the United States,residing at Englewood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type WVritingMachines; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to that classpf type-writers in which atype-wheel having one or more printing fields is employed, and among theprime objects in view is to produce a more simple, efficient, andcompact machine to imprint by means of a type-wheel and hammer-bail, thelatter being so arranged as to permit of the insertion of paper in rearofthe platen, to dispense with all intermediate driving-levers forimparting motion to the typewheel, hammer-bail, and locking mechanism,and to accomplish the rotation of the wheel by a direct contact of thekey-levers with a pinion or other well-known rotating device form edrigid with the type-wheel, and, further, to improve and simplify all ofthe parts and combination of parts, so as to secure a direct action andconvenience and ease of operation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be particularly'pointed out in theclaims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of atype-writing machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2is a plan of the base, the key-lever frame or bed being removed. Fig. 3is a side elevation of the complete machine. Fig. 4 is abottom plan ofthe key-lever frame removed. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the type-Wheellooking mechanism. Fig. (5 is an elevation of the type-wheeloperatingand spacing mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of theadjustable connection employed between the locking-bail and rack. Fig. 8is a detail in plan of the type-wheel-shifting mechanism. Fig. 9 is adetail of the shifting-cams. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of thecarriage-feeding mechanism. Fig. 11 is a similar view of thebailtripping mechanism. Fig.12 is adetail of the c'arriageueleasingmechanism. Fig. 12

'row in Fig. 12.

is a detail looking in the direction of the ar- Fig. 13 is a detail inplan'of the inking devices. Fig. 14 is a detail in cross-section of theink-pads and supplyingducts. Fig. 15 is asectional View of thehammer-bail-reversing mechanism. Fig. 16 is a detail in cross-section ofthe platen, paperfeed, and guide. Fig. 17 is a vertical crosssectionthrough Fig. 2. Like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in allthe figures of the drawings.

1 represents the base of the machine, which is supported upon anysuitable legs 2, and is formed for the purpose of lightening thestructure with an interior opening 3.

Mount-ed upon the base 1 by means of up wardly-pro jecting standards 4is an inclined key-lever-supporting frame 5, the inclination beingtoward the front of the machine, whereby the keys mounted therein aremore convenient for manipulation. The key lever frame 5 is also formedwith an interior opening, and is provided at intervals with intermediatecross-bars 6, having kerfs 7 for the support and guidance of thekey-levers, which are mounted within the key-frame, as I will nowproceed to describe.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4,Wl1l0h is a bottom. plan of thekey-lever frame, it will be seen that the same is formed with dependinglugs 7 at each side of the frame, in which are secured opposite fixedrods 8, extending transversely across the frame.

9 represents the key-levers,which,as shown in Fig. 6, are slotted, as at10, to receive the rods 8,21. series of levers being projected from eachof the rods 8, the series projecting from one side alternating withthose at the other side of the frame. The levers 9 at their free endsare bent at substantially a right angle to their body portion andprojecting through the kerfs 7 above the frame 5 and are provided withthe usual key-buttons 11. It will be noticed that a portion of the keysare formed with a longer leverage than others, whereby a longerdepression is required for making an impression upon the paper. For thisreason those keys that influence the letters that are used oftener thanothers are formed with a longer leverage, whereby a lightness of touchnecessary to imprint is se-- cured. Each of the keys is maintainedagainst an abutmentrod 12 (see Fig. 6) by means of a series of lightcoiled springs 13,connecting the keys with the under surface of theframe 5. Intermediate the point of depression of each key and its pointof pivot upon the rod 8 is formed an upwardly-projecting rack-arm 14,which is provided with an upper toothed end and a lower plain portion,the tooth portion being adapted by the depression of a key to be throwninto connection with and rotate a long pinion 15, extending transverselyacross and under the frame 5 and over the series of key-levers 9. Thesegmental racks 14 are formed upon the key-levers 9 at that side of thepinion 15 farthest away from the fulcrum of the lever, and said leversnormally remain at an altitude free from engagement from the pinion, sothat each lever may drive the pinion without hinderance or obstructionfrom the remaining levers. These toothed extensions of the levers arelocated on each side of the pinion, so that the longest drive of thepinion necessary is a half-revolution each way,intermediate drives beinggraduallydislevers and is adapted to be rocked either side by thedepression of the lever near the end of its stroke.

Rigid with the long pinion l5 and projecting to the rear of the machineand to the front through the hangers 16 there is a shaft 17*, which atits front end carries a wedge-shaped centering-arm 18 and at its rearend an ordinary type-wheel 19.

Pivoted to one of the cross-rods 8 of the key-frame and at each sidethereof is a swinging bail 20, the free ends of which are connected by acrossbar 21, extending under the bank of keys at the center of theframe, the bail being maintained in a horizontal position and directlyin contact with the keylevers by springs 22*. From that side of the bailthat is at the rear of the frame there is secured and projects an arm22, which terminates directly under the front end of the shaft 17*, andis provided with a fixed upwardly projecting bifurcated V shapedcentering device 23, adapted to receive and maintain a wedge-shaped arm18 in a fixed position and to release the same by being depressed at thedepression of any of the keys of the machine, and when the keyisreleased from pressure to again center the shaft 17*, and consequentlyreturn the type-wheel to its normal position.

Intermediate the type-wheel and the rear hanger 16 upon the shaft 17*there is rigidly mounted with the shaft a locking-wheel 24,

' which is formed with an annularly-grooved hub 25 in rear thereof.

From the pivot of the rocking locking-bail 17 and at its rear'endoutside of the hanger 16 there is mounted and adapted to oscillate withsaid rocking bail a V-shaped arm 26, from which project laterally ateach of its members locking-pins 27, designed for operation at each sideof each of the teeth of the locking-wheel 24. The pins remain normal-that is, when the bail is not influenced by any of the key-levers-so asto remain hori-' of locking-teeth do double service-that is,

they do service for twice the number of stops or less on a single row orcircle of type upon the type-wheel, or, in other words, each toothserves for two stops-one when the pin is engaged upon one side of thetooth and another when it is engaged upon the other side-and thus thesaid wheel 24 is locked on each side of its teeth. The relativearrangement of the key-levers, the bail 17, pins 27, and pinion 15 issuch that the depression of a key-lever which is pivoted on the leftside of the locking-wheel will depress the right side ofthe bail, whichwill bring the locking-pin 27 on the left side of the locking-wheel intocontact therewith. The teeth on the wheel 24 are placed at sucha'distance apart that the said wheel has a slight movement before thepin 27 will act against the edges of two adjacent teeth and thereforelock the wheel at two different points in its rotation, thus reducing byone-half the number of teeth necessary in the wheel 24. WVhen akey-lever pivoted on the left is depressed, it rotates the lookingwheelfrom left to right and brings the lefthand pin 27 into contact with theupper side of one of the teeth 011 the wheel 24. If after the firstkey-lever is released a second lefthand pivoted key-lever is depressed,it also rotates the wheel 24: from left to right and causes theleft-hand pin .47 to engage the upper side of another tooth in thelocking-wheel. In short, all the key-levers pivoted on the left-handside cause the pin 27 on the left hand to engage the upper sides of theteeth on the locking-wheel, and this left-hand pin, being operated by noother levers, cannot abut against the lower edge of the next adjacenttooth. The right-hand levers when depressed cause the lockingwheel torotate in the opposite directionthat is, from right to left-and thuscause the right-hand pin 27 to engage the lower edges of the teeth ofthe locking-wheel. It will thus be seen that the locking-wheelnecessarily has but one-half the number of teeth required by otherconstrue tion s. The locking-pins are made ol sufficient IIO length tointercept the locking-wheel at any pointin the line of itslongitudinalmovement.

The pinion and its shaft 17*, carrying the type-wheel 19, havelongitudinal movement as well as rotative, in order that the severalfields of printing-circles of type may be brought to the printing orimpression point. This reciprocation of the pinion, its shaft, and wheelis accomplished in the following manner: A reciprocating rod 28 ismounted in bearings 29,projecting upwardly from the upper surface of theframe 5, and is provided at one end with a key-button 30, interposedbetween which and its front bearings 29 is a coiled spring 31-, so thatsaid rod is held at a predetermined or normal position when nototherwise influenced. From the rear end of the rod 28 there dependsafixed bifurcated arm 32, the bifurcations of which embrace theannularly-grooved hub of the locking-wheel. Now it is evident that bythe reciprocation of this rod the type-wheel will be accordinglyreciprocated, and, as will be hereinafter apparent, different fields oftype will be brought to the printing-point and directly over theimpression-hammer bail. The means for operating this rod 28, as shown inFig. 8, is as follows: Pivoted in bearings 33 at each side of the bar 28there are independent rock-shafts 34, the opposite ends of which havebearing in the bearings 29. From each of these shafts there projectrearwardly slotted cams 35, which are adapted to be thrown intoconnection with transverse rods or pins 36, projected laterally from therod 28. The rock-shafts 34 are operated by key-levers 37. The slots inthe cams 35 are of different curvature, so that each cam will,

' when brought into connection with the pin 36, by its respective lever37, throw the shaft 28 different distances, thus bringing the typewheelat different points, so thatthe printing-field represented by that leverwill bebrought into action. In this instance there are threeprinting-fields employed, and while the spring 31 maintains oneprinting-field in operation each of the levers 37 operates the remainingprinting-fields.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3, l3, and 14,-in which I haveshown a preferred form of inker, 38 represents the ink-supply fountainor reservoir, from opposite sides of which there extend duct 39,provided intermediate their ends and their communication with thefountain with'valves 40 to regulate the supply'of ink and at theirextremities with ink-delivery pads 41, which embrace each side of thetype-wheel 19. By this construction liquid ink is conveyed in limitedquantities through the ducts .39 and distributed over the-pads, andduring the rotation of the type-wheel is conveyed from thence to thesurface of the type.

Upon the base of the machine and at its rear end there extends acrossthe same a carriage track or rod 42, upon which is mounted ,forlongitudinal reciprocation a paper car-v riage 43, having vertical endwalls 44, in which is journaled the paper-carrying roller 45, the samebeing provided at one end with a ratchet-wheel 46. Upon the bracket 47,proj ecting from one of the side walls 44 of the carriage, there ispivoted a lever 48, carrying at its front end aspring-pressed pawl 49,adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet 46, and also carrying anupwardly-curved arm 50. The curved arm 50 of the lever is thrown intothe path of the hammer-bail and prevents the same from making a falseimpression. By pushing forward the lever 48 it is obvious that theroller will be rotated one notch and thus the line-spacing of the paperaccomplished. I

At the opposite end of the roller there projects and is mounted upon itsspindle a bell 51, the outer circumferenceof which at its edge ismilled, as at 52, whereby said bell will serve also as a thumb-nut forrotating and retracting the roller. The hammer 53 is pivoted to thecarriage below the bell and is adapted to be thrown into contacttherewith by the dog 54, operated by the trip 56, pro jecting from asleeve 57 and adjustably mounted upon a worm-screw 58, which is 1'0-tated by the nut 59 and journaled in bearing 60, the bearing beingmounted upon the base of the machine and in proximity to the carriage,all as shown in Fig. 11. By the adjustment of the sleeve 57 in the trip56 upon the shaft 58 through'the medium of its nut 59 the said sleevewill travel along the shaft, it being unable to rotate, and thus thealarm given at anypredetermined point on the paper, which point isdetermined by means of a scale 61, arranged in juxtaposition with theworm-shaft 58. The carriage is support-ed in position at its front endupon the rod 42 by means of clips 62 and at its'rear' end upon the smallroller 63, journaled in the base of the machine.

Upon a rod 64, mounted in standards 65, projecting from the base of themachine and in front of the carriage, are projecting rockarms 66, attheopposite end ofwhich is secured a vertical oscillating rack-bar 67, thesame being maintained up against a set-screw or stop 67* by means of acoiled spring 68, secured upon the rock-shaft 64.

Pivoted in bearings 69 at the rear of the base 1, as clearly shown inFig. 15, is a spacerlever 70, which projects forward to the front of themachine and up to substantially on a level with the keys, and isprovided with a touch-plate 71, whereby spaces between the words may beaccomplished, as I will now proceed to describe. From the lever thereextends a curved bail 71* and below the same a curved tooth 72, thetooth being adapted, when-depressed by the spacing-lever 70, to come incontact with a block 73, mounted on the rack-bar 67, and thus depressingsaid rack-bar, so as to oscillate the samefrom one to the other of saidpawls. 4

Pivoted loosely upon a rod 7 4, journaled in ICO l'IO

the end walls of the carriage, which rod is adapted to oscillateorpartly rotate, is a hammer-bail 75, which normally lies slightly tothe rear of the platen 45, the ends embracing the ends of the platenand, as before mentioned, loosely connected with the rod 74. Securedupon the rod 74 at each end is a rock-arm 76, havingapin 745*, whichprojects under the ham mer-bail 75 at each end thereof.

Upon the base of the carriage-frame there are pivoted, one above theother, two pawls 77 and 7 8, the latter being spring-pressed by means ofthe spring 79,a stop 80 serving to limit its movement, as shown in Fig.12. The pawl 77 is adapted to move with orindependently of the pawl 78,and is limited in its movement by the stop 80 and a stop-pin S1,projecting from the face of the pawl 78 opposite tothe stop 80. Thecarriage receives its movement from a cord 82, which passes around thespring-drum 83*, and the pawl 77 is normally in mesh with the rack-bar67. Now by a depression of the, spacer. the curved arm 72 comes incontact with the block 73, arranged on the rack-bar 67, and oscillatesthe rack-bar downwardly, so as to throw said rack-bar out of mesh withthe pawl 77 and into mesh with the lower pawl 78, in which position itis held. \Vhen the pawl 77 is released from contact with the bar 67, thepawl is swung to the left against the stop "81 through the medium of adepending arm 93, which projects downwardly from the rock-shaft 7 4, therock-shaft being drawn to the rear through the medium of arspring 83,

connecting it with the rear of the carriage. The arm 93 is madeadjustable upon the rod 7 by means of the set-screw 93*, and thecarriage-bail and the hammer-bail and its rod 7 a are maintained in thelowered or normal position and against oscillation aslon g as the uppertooth or pawl 77 is in mesh with the rackbar. hen out of mesh and therack-bar is thrown into connection with the lower pawl 78, the spring 83draws upon the rod 74 and partially oscillates the same and causes thedepending arm 93 to come against the arm 84, projecting from the tail orrear end of the pawl 77 and at a right angle thereto. This oscillatesthe pawl upon its pivot one notch, and the same takes into the nextnotch or tooth of the rack-bar. By the mechanism just describedword-spacing is accomplished, and in a somewhat similar manner is alsothe letterspacing. In the latter instance, however, the rocking bail 17is made to operate the bail 71* and causes a depression of the rack-bar67. hen the key-lever is depressed by the construction and arrangementdescribed, the rack-bar is depressed, which liberates the upper pawl 77,as described, which in turn liberates the rocking bail or shaft 74, andthe same is drawn back or oscillated by the spring 83, and the arms 76,mounted on said shaft, being fixed therewith, are moved with said shaft.These arms are provided with pins, which, as before described, projectunder each i 91, as shown in Fig. 6.

end of the ham mer-bail 75, and thus said bail is struck or raised tothe printing-point and the impression of the type upon the paper isconsu m mated. I

lVhen spacing for words, it is undesirable that the hammer-bail 75should be operated, as such an operation would cause a misprint or blurupon the work. For this reason and to prevent its operation a second arm85 projects from the rod 74 and directly over the curved bail 71*. Bythis arrangement when the pawl 77 is released and the shaft 74consequently oscillated the oscillation of said shaft is arrested toprevent the arms 76 from operating the han11ner-bail 75. however, thekey-levers operate the lockingbail 17, which in turn operates directlyupon the rack-bar 67.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, I transversely recess the arms of the bail 17at opposite sides thereof for the reception and retention againstdisplacement of a slotted or bifurcated screw 86, which is held inposition and made to ride within the slot by means of a thumb-nut 37,which embraces the bifurca- :tions of the screw and for the reception ofwhich the bail is formed with an opening 88.

The lower end of the screw 86 is provided with an eye 89, which isconnected to the rack-bar 67 by the slotted link 90 and a screw By thisdevice an extremely fine and convenient adjustmentis provided for theliberation of the feed-pawls from the rack-bar.

Passing through one of the end walls 44 of the carriage-frame there is arod 92, having a head 93, and'a spring 94*, interposed between the headand the wall. The opposite end of this rod 92 abuts against a projectionI 931 of the pawl 77 and serves to liberate the pawl from the rack inorder that-the carriage may be returned to any point along a printedline for the purpose of a correction or a misprint or otherwise, asshown in Fig. 12.

As clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 16, there is mounted in rigidsupports 94, extending under the platen 45 and to each side thereof,rolls 95, which are rigid so far as their move ment toward and away fromthe platen is concerned. Over these rollers is extended, at each sidethereof, a rubber band 96, one portion of which is always in snugcontact with the platen 45 and serves to maintain the paper snuglythereagainst.

The guard 97 is provided in rear of the platen and serves to guide thepaper after it leaves the guiding influence of the rubbers 96. Thisguard 97 may be provided with a scale (not shown) and a rod 99, extendedin front of the guard 97, whereby that portion of the paper not held bythe platen is supported away from the printing-wheel.

The lever 48 is provided with a curved arm 50, projecting therefrom atsubstantially right angles to the axis of the paper-carrying roller 45,and is adapted, when the lever is operated, to be thrown in the path ofthe hammcr-bail In printing,

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and prevent the same from rising and making a false impression.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a type-writingmachine, a key-frame having keys pivoted at opposite sides and formedwith rack-arms between their ends, in combination with a pinion carryinga printing device and extending transversely across and under the frameand adapted to be operated by the rack-arms on the keys, substantiallyas described.

2. In a type-writing machine, a key-frame having keys provided withsegmental racks, in combination with a pinion mounted in the framebetween the ends of the key-levers and carrying a type-wheel adapted tobe operated by the racks and means for reciprocating the .pinion,substantially as specified.

3. In a type-writing machine, a locking wheel having a series of teethmounted on a shaft carryin g a type-wheel and having half as many teethas there are letters on a single row of the type-wheel, and mean s,substantially as described, for locking said wheel on either side ofeach of its teeth, substantially as specified.

4. In a type-writin g machine,a shaft adapted to be operated by thekey-levers of the machine and carrying a type-wheel and a lockingwheelhaving an annularly-grooved hub, in combination with a rod mounted uponthe machine and engaging with the hub and rockshafts having keys forreciprocating said rod, whereby different fields of type are brought tothe printing-point, substantially as specilied.

5. In a type-writing machine, a shaft carrying a type-wheel and oppositepins and connections between said shaft and pins, in combi nation withlevers provided with keys and having cams adapted to be operated by thekeys and to throw the cams in connection with the pins, whereby saidshaft is actuated to bring different fields of type to theprintingpoint, substantially as specified.

6. In a type-writing machine, and in combination with the wheel thereof,an ink-reservoir having ducts at opposite sides provided with valves andterminating in pads at each side of the wheel, substantially asspecified.

7. In a type-writing machine, a series of key-levers and a bail arrangedbelow the same and adapted to be depressed thereby and carrying abifurcated centering-arm, in combination with a pinion carrying atype-wheel and awedge-shaped arm adapted normally to be held in positionby said centering-arm and be released therefrom at each depression ofthe key-lever, substantially as specified.

8. In a type-writing machine, a key-lever frame having key-levers and apinion adapted to beoperatedbythe leversand carryingatypewheel and alocking-wheel, in combination with a rocking bail pivoted under thelevers and adapted to be rocked thereby and provided with a bifurcatedarm having locking pins adapted to be thrown into connection with thelocking-wheel ateither side, substantially as specified.

9. In a type-writing machine, a key-leverframe-havingkeysprovidedwithsegmentsand a pinion pivoted in the frameand oarryinga printing-wheel and a toothed locking-wheel, in combinationwith a double rocking bail pivoted under the levers and provided with abifurcated arm having pins adapted to be thrown into either of the teethof the locking wheel and in accordance with the lever depressed,substantially as specified.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination, with a rockinglocking-bail having transverse recesses and the rack-bar, of the slottedscrew working in the recess in the bail, the thumb-nut S7, embracing thebifurcations of the screw, the screw formed at its lower end with an eye89, and the slotted link 90 and screw 91, connecting said screw with therackbar, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

11. In a type-writing machine, a movable carriage having feed-pawls, incombination with a rack-bar, ablock mounted on said rackbar, aspacing-lever pivoted to the base and projecting to the front of themachine and provided with a curved bail, an arm 85, projecting over saidbail, a curved tooth between said bail and rack-bar, and the hammer-bailchecked or held from striking by the curved bail, substantially asdescribed.

12. In a type-writing machine, the combination, with the carriage, theroller, the hammer, and the bail parallel with the roller, of the keys,the spacer, and connections between the keys and spacer and the bail,whereby by the depression of a key the bail is drawn to the printingpoint and retained against movement at the depression of the spacer,substantially as described.

13. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a feed-pawl andcarriage carrying a hammer-bail adapted to be thrown to'theprinting-point by the liberation of the pawl, substantially asspecified.

14. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a'carriage-framecarrying apivoted hammer-bail and a spring-pressed shaft having armsextending under the bail, a feedpawl pressed by a depending armextending from the shaft, and a rack-bar adapted to be thrown into andout of connection with the pawl, substantially as specified.

15. In a type-writing machine, a carriage carrying a rock-shaft having adepending arm adapted to press against a pawl mounted in'the carriage,and a spring for actuating said rockshaft, in combination with afeed-rack adapted to be thrown in and out of connection with the pawl,whereby when in the latter position said pawl is advanced one tooth bythe oscillation of the rock-shaft, substantially as specifled.

16. In a type-gvriting machine, a carriage carrying'feed-pawls and arock-shaft rebracket and having a spring-pressed bolt adapted to rotatethe ratchet, and a curved arm projected from the lever and adapted whenthe lever is operated to be thrown in the path of the hammer-bail andprevent the same from rising and making afalse impression, substantiallyas specified.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES SPIRO. Nitnessesi W. S. DUVALL, L. G. l-IILLs.

